First-ever Brant Lake Winter Carnival set for Saturday

A team of employees from Queensbury Home Depot run towards the finish line in the annual outhouse race held by Lake George Winter Carnival Saturday Feb. 2. This weekend, such zany action will be featured again upcounty, as the first-ever Brant Lake Winter Carnival will be holding an outhouse race among its many family-friendly activities for not only spectators but participants.

An extensive array of family-oriented activities and great weather may draw a substantial crowd to the debut edition of the Brant Lake Winter Carnival Saturday Feb. 9, event organizers said this week.

Dozens of participatory activities are planned for people of all ages and interests for the event, set for 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. or so on the lake in front of Jimbo’s Club at Point ‘O Pines Camp.

Heavy snowfall early in the morning, followed by sunny warm weather is forecast for Saturday, making conditions ideal for the outdoor activities planned, Carnival officials said.

One advance indication that hundreds of people are likely to attend, is that about eight teams have signed up for an outhouse race competition to be conducted on the ice, Carnival committee member Cindy Mead said. That number is considered large for a debut event.

The carnival also features the Horicon firefighters challenging a local adult team in Snowshoe Softball beginning at 11 a.m., followed by a curling demonstration by the Lake Placid Curling Club and competition in the unusual sport occurring at noon.

The carnival also features a broomball tournament, flag hockey, Frisbee golf, ice bowling, putter golf, a hockey shoot-out, a chainsaw carving demonstration and an expo of vintage snowmobiles.

Children’s activities include a Kid’s Ice Fishing Tournament — for those 12 and under — with instruction and bait provided by The Crossroads Store.

Also offered for children will be a parent-child sled race, and a snow-sculpting activity. Entire families will likely be involved in cross-country skiing, ice skating and self-guided snowshoeing tours on the lake. People are encouraged to come by skiis, snowmobiles or ATV’s — as land-based parking is likely to be limited.

Jimbo’s Restaurant will be open, and they’ll also be cooking up and selling hamburgers and hot dogs on the beach. The event is sponsored by the Tri-Lakes Business Alliance.

Vocalist Lindsey Meade is providing music during the day, and the Ray Alexander Jazz Trio will be playing inside Jimbo’s during the evening hours.

Any group of people or enterprise interested in entering the outhouse race or forming a broomball team should contact Cindy Mead at 494-3016 for details.

The outhouse race, with teams pushing their custom-designed outdoor privies over the ice, is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.

Mead said she had high expectations for attendance, considering the extensive advance publicity and the feedback she’s already heard from community members.

“Everybody is talking about the Carnival — and with the recent event cancellations in the county because of a lack of snow, people are looking for something fun to do,” she said. “We’re expecting a pretty big crowd.”